These are the top-selling—i.e. most popular—vehicles by state, as determined by Edmunds data collected over the course of 2021*†. Vehicles included in the data set are exclusively retail registrations to individuals and do not include rental sales or registrations from government bodies. Additionally, only new vehicle registrations were included. Click on a state to view its five top-selling vehicles.
Most popular cars in America
By:
Best selling cars
2021: State of Car Sales in America
100% of the five best-selling vehicles in Alaska are trucks.
The Tesla Model Y is the top-selling EV nationally and the only EV that's a top-five seller in multiple states (CA, DC, HI).
Contrary to popular belief, the Subaru Forester is not in the top five for sales in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont.
Nationally, 80% of the top 10 sellers are either trucks or SUVs (Honda Civic and Toyota Camry are the exceptions).
Four of the top 10 sellers nationally are Toyotas, more than any other brand (in order: RAV4, Camry, Highlander, Tacoma).
The top-selling Korean vehicle in America is the Hyundai Tucson at #22.
Top 10 Sold Vehicles of the Year
1. Ford F-Series
The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling truck (and vehicle) in the United States for more than 40 years. Named the Edmunds Top Rated Truck for 2022, the F-150 has tons of configurations to meet your needs.
2. Chevrolet Silverado
The very first Chevy pickup truck from 1918 came without a bed, and buyers had to install their own. Thankfully, today's Chevrolet Silverado comes with everything you need in a full-size pickup.
3. Ram 1500/2500/3500
The Ram name only showed up on a pickup truck in 1981, making the Ram 1500 technically a millennial. It's also comfortable and capable, winning our award as the Top Rated Truck in 2019 and 2020.
4. Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling passenger vehicle that's not a full-size truck, and it's responsible for kicking off the SUV craze. The name stands for "Recreational Activity Vehicle."
5. Honda CR-V
Back when it launched, Honda said that the CR-V's name stood for "Comfortable Runabout Vehicle." After 25 years on the market, we can't disagree: The CR-V is a comfortable family runabout.
6. Toyota Camry
The Toyota corporation started out making textile looms. These days, the Toyota Camry does a different kind of weaving, as it's the only nameplate on this list to have competed in NASCAR.
7. Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is the car that made Honda a household name. With multiple body styles and engines, the Civic has broad appeal that's kept it near the top of the best-seller list for decades.
8. Toyota Highlander
The Highlander gets high marks for its superb comfort and above-average fuel economy. It feels confident on a winding road, and its responsive acceleration is useful for driving around town.
9. GMC Sierra
Corporate twin to the Chevy Silverado, the GMC Sierra delivers all of its sibling's capability in a more upscale package, especially in top-level Denali trim.
10. Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma enjoys a long-standing reputation for durability and go-anywhere capability. But it's also smooth, efficient and easy to get along with on the road.
Most Popular Cars in America by Region
We often hear about the best-selling cars nationwide, but which ones are most popular in specific regions? As it turns out, there are some interesting variations in the most popular cars from one area of the country to another. We looked at the four major regions of the United States — Northeast, Midwest, South and West — to see which models sell best where.
Northeast
(The Northeast includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.)
The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V are always strong sellers nationally, and that holds true in the Northeast. The RAV4 is the best-selling SUV in New England, but in the other Northeast states the CR-V noses ahead. Notably, Ram is the top-selling truck in Pennsylvania, elbowing out Ford and Chevy.
Midwest
(The Midwest Census region consists of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas.)
When buying a truck, drivers in the Midwest prefer the Ford F-Series and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500/2500/3500 models. Although the most popular vehicle in the US has long been the Ford F-150, the Chevy Silverado is another favorite. It sells better than the Ford in many Midwestern states, including Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan, the heartland of America's automotive industry. Truck-lovers of the region seem torn between Ford and Chevrolet. The Ram 1500/2500/3500 is another favorite in the region, as is the Silverado's identical twin, the GMC Sierra.
The Chevrolet Equinox also makes a strong showing among crossover SUVs, ranking among the top five vehicles sold in five Midwestern states. The Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V sell better than the Equinox on the national level, but the Equinox provides stiff competition in the region.
South
(According to the Census Bureau, the South consists of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma.)
The South is truck country. Trucks are the top three sellers in most states in the South. Drivers generally prefer the Ford F-Series when it comes to trucks, although West Virginia and Alabama, for example, favor the Chevy Silverado. Florida is an exception in that the top two sellers are not trucks, but rather a sedan (Toyota Corolla) and an SUV (Toyota RAV4). The Toyota Camry is also in Florida's top five, as is the Ram truck series, although it's in fifth place to the Ford F-Series' third.
West
(The West consists of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.)
The "Big Three" trucks from Ford, Chevy and Ram remain popular in the West, but Toyota and Honda are also top-performing brands. The Toyota RAV4 is consistently in the top five across the Western states, including Alaska and Hawaii. From Honda, the CR-V is the most consistent sales performer in this region, but the Civic earns the honor of being California's top selling vehicle of any type. California is also notable for having two Teslas in its top five: the Model Y at #3 and the Model 3 at #5. Hawaiians, meanwhile, seem to favor Toyota over every other brand. The three most popular models in Hawaii are Toyotas: Tacoma, 4Runner and RAV4.
*October 2020 - October 2021
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